Ignition harness assembly



Filed Feb. 2, 1945 J. T. OSTERMAN ETAL IGNITION HARNESS ASSEMBLY g MK 1mwfi H m M m m mwm T KM A H I April 11, 1950 Patented Apr. 11, 1950IGNITION HARNESS ASSEMBLY Joseph T. Osterman,

Northampton, and Alvah 0.

Ericksberg, Springfield, Mass., assignors to American Bosch Mass., a.corporation Corporation, of New York Springfield,

Application February 2, 1945, Serial No. 575,873 4 Claims. (01. 173-363)This invention relates to a new and improved lead assembly forelectrically connectin electricalcomponents and mor particularly to adisconnectible and replaceable radio-shielded lead assembly having aminimum number of contact conducting surfaces, which is adapted toconduct heavy surges of high frequency current of short duration andwhich is also capable of withstanding wide temperature variations andconsiderable vibration, such as encountered by ignition leads employedin aircraft engines.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a new and improveddisconnectible and replaceable radio-shielded lead assembly unit whichis capable of conducting heavy surges of high frequency current of shortduration without impeding the flow of the current; which has a minimumnumber of conducting contact surfaces; and which is also capable ofwithstanding wide temperature variations and considerable amounts ofvibration such as are encountered by a lead connecting a capacitydischarge gap and a spark plug in the ignition system of an aircraftengine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disconnectible leadassembly of the type set forth, which may be easily and quicklyconnected to electrical components for formin electrical connectiontherebetween, and which may be easily and quickly installed or removedand replaced by another similar lead.

Another object is to provide new and improved terminals for adisconnectible lead of the type specified above, which terminals areintegral with the lead and are adapted to make good electrical contactwith the members to which they are connected.

Another object is to provide new and improved radio-shielded electricalleads of the type set forth.

Another object is to provide a new and improved radio-shielded leadhaving integral disconnectible terminals on both ends thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. It will be understood that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. We,therefore, do not wish to be limited to exact details shown anddescribed, as the preferred form has been shown by way of illustrationonly.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a side view, partly in section, of a lead connector formedaccording to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the contact memberof the terminal; Fig. 3 is an end view of the contact member shown inFig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the terminal.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the invention is shown, for the purpose of illustration, applied to alead connector for connecting a capacity discharge gap and a spark plugof an aircraft engine. nates the housing for the capacity discharge gaponly part of which is shown, and which includes a glass envelope orcontainer ll containing an electrode [2 and the shield 13 which aremounted on the stem M which has a portion l5 extending through thecontainer to form an electrical connection for the discharge gap.

Between the container I I and the housing I0 is positioned the insulatorl6 of rubber or Neoprene which acts both as a shock and high tensioninsulator for the discharge gap.

The lead comprises a wire having a core I! over which is the covering[8. The wire runs through the braided flexible radio shielding conduit[9, which conduit has an end secured by soldering within the flared end20 of the conventional spark plug metallic elbow 2|, through which saidwire also extends.

The elbow 2| has the steel fitting 22 secured to the end thereof byfirst press-fitting the parts in telescoping relation and thensilver-soldering the parts together by induction. The nut 23 has aportion in telescoping relation with the fittin 22 and has the flange 24adapted to engage the flange 25 on the fitting 22 when the threadedportion of the nut is tightened in threaded engagement with the objectto which the lead is to be connected such as a spark plug connection.

At its opposite end the conduit I9 is secured by solder or the like tothe brass ferrule 26 which is held in position in the end 2'! of thehousing In by the harness nut 28 which is in telescoping engagementtherewith with its end engaging the flange 29 on the ferrule 26. Flange29 engages a flange 30 on the housing In and the harness nut 28 has anexternal threaded portion adapted to engage a threaded portion on thehousing H] to retain the members in assembled relation.

Within the conduit l9 and elbow 2i is positioned the lead which consistsof the core I! having the insulating covering l8. To each end of In thedrawings, I0 desig the lead are secured the terminals 32 and 33, and theends of the lead and the terminals are each enclosed in the insulators3d and 35 respectively, which insulators are preferably of rubber,rubberlike or other suitable insulating material and are molded to suchform as to enclose all of the terminal but the. openingv necessary formaking connection.

The terminals 32 and 33 each comprise an outer shell consistin of theintegral cylindrical por-- tion 36 and cap portion 31 connected. by theintegral reduced open throat 38. The cap portion 31 has its outer end 39flared to receive: the end ofthe lead and, as shown in Fig. 1, the caportion 31 is crimped on the lead with the forward. end 40 of the core ofthe lead extending into the open throat 38 and secured therein bysolderingor the like. The crimping of the cap member 37 on the leadcovering 31 serves to relieve the solder" connection of any strain andprevents breaking ofi of the lead at the soldered connection. Within thecap. portion 31 is positioned the spring terminal member it which may bemade of beryllium copper and. which may be formed by blanliing fromastrip and then bending to proper shape and comprises the portions 42-adapted to be placed in telescoping relation with the cylindricalportion 36 and to be secured theretoby soldering through the opening 43m the'portion' 38.

The integral spring contact member 44 is formed integral withandinternally of theportions 42, and is-adapted to receive the contactpin or rod such asthe rod 15 on the spark gap, for positive electricalconnection therewith. Be-- fore: the spring terminal member H ispositioned within the cylindrical portion 36-, the coil spring 45' isplaced therein surrounding the spring contactmember W to compresstheinner spring member into engagement with the contact pin or rod'ashereinabove described;

The lead with the integral connections at its opposite ends forms acomplete lead assembly which may be easily and quickly installed in theignition system or disconnectedtherefrom;

From the foregoing'it will be-se'en'tliat we have provided relativelysimple; efiicient and economical means for obtaining all of' the objectsand advantages of the invention.

- Having described our invention; we claim:

1. A terminal adapted" to" be connected to an" electrical conductor fordetachably connecting" said conductor to an electrical component, saidterminal comprising a tubular member'having a contact portion and aconnecting portion, said portions being connected by an integralreduced" throat portion, said connecting portion" being" adaptedto-receive theend of theelectrical conductor and be connected thereto'and' a contact;

member in said contactportion, said contact" member having a hollow"contact portion having slotted sides and adapted to receive a contact ofan. electrical. component therebetweenand acoil spring surrounding saidhollow contactportion". and. normally compressing said sides towardsaid: contact for retaining the same inresilientcontact with said.contact on the electrical component.

2; A terminal adapted to be: connected toan" electrical conductor." fordetachably connecting:

said. conductor. to an. electrical component,v said terminalycomprising:a tubular member having acontactportion and a connecting portion, saidportionsbeing connected by an:integral reduced ductor and be connectedthereto and a contact member in said contact portion, said contactmember having a hollow contact portion comprising a plurality of spacedwalled portions adapted to receive a contact of an electrical componenttherebetween and a coil spring surrounding said spaced walled portionsof said hollow contact portion for normally compressing said sectionstoward said contact for retaining the same in resilient contact with thecontact on the electrical component and means for securing said contactmember within said contact portion of said tubular member.

. 3. A terminal adapted to be connected to an electrical conductor fordetachably connecting said conductor to an electrical component, saidterminal comprising a tubular member having a contact portion and aconnecting portion, said portions being connected by an integral hollowreduced throat portion adapted to receive the end of the core of theelectrical conductor, said connecting portion being adapted to receivethe end of the insulated portion of the electrical conductor and beconnected thereto and a contact member in said contact portion, saidcontact member having a hollow contact portion adapted to receive acontact of an electrical component and a coil spring surrounding saidhollow contact portion for retaining the same in resilient contact withthe contact on the electrical component and an opening through saidcontact portion and solder in said opening for securing said contactmember in position within said contact portion of said tubular member.

4. A terminal adapted to be connected to an electrical conductor fordetachably connecting.

said conductor to an electrical component, said terminal comprising atubular member having a contact portion and a connecting portion, saidportions being connected by an integral hollow reduced throat portionadapted to receive the end of the core of the electrical conductor, saidconnecting portion being adapted to receive the end of the insulatedportion of said electrical conductor and be connected thereto and acontact member in said contact portion, said contact member having ahollow contact portion adapted. to receive a contact or an electricalcomponent and a coil'spring surrounding said hollow contact portion forretaining the same in resilient contact with the contact on theelecrical component, said contact member comprising a strip memberformed with a hollow integral intermediate contact portion. r V

JOSEPH T. OSTERMAN.

ALVAH O. ERICKSBERG.

v I REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in. the fileof this patent: UNITED STATES E'A'IENTS Number Name Date 31,659,648Douglas Feb. 21, 1928 1,677,068 Alden July 10, 1928 2,134,946 HurleyNov. 1, 1938 2,164,591 Peters July 4, 1939 2,186,038 Peters Jan. 9, 1940{2,396,060 Spengler et al Mar. 5, 1946 "2,402,049 Ingalls June 11,1946

' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 765,318 France Mar. 19, 1934

